SOUTHEND 7-2 GILLS YOUTH

Gills Youth side slipped to a 7-2 defeat to Southend on Saturday, but Darren Hare said there were still positives to take from the game.

The visitors found themselves 4-0 down at the interval after some clinical finishing by the seasiders, and although goals from Mahlon Romeo and Michael Freiter got them back in to the game, the Gills were unable to force a result.

After the game Darren said: “Ricky Duncan does a great job over there and we always have tough games. I had the edge over him last season and I think every time we played them we beat them; we are good friends so there is always a bit of friendly rivalry.

“On this occasion though it just seemed like everything they hit went in. The first four goals were a bit of a blur and we found ourselves 4-0 down at half time having not played that badly and having had our own chances which we hadn’t managed to convert.

“I was in a situation when I didn’t really know what to say, we hadn’t had the rub of the green in front of goal but four times you think something isn’t right.

“I asked them to go out and not lose the second half – unfortunately we didn’t manage to do that. We lost it 3-2 but the two goals we scored were good goals and it gave me some belief.”